Method and apparatus for coordinating a change in service provider between a client and a server
A method of configuring a network access device having a first network address allocated to a subscriber of services of a first service provider provided by a first service network, with a new network address allocated to a subscriber of services of a second service provider provided by a second service network, wherein the network access device is connected to an access network connected to a plurality of service networks. The method comprises the steps of: sending a request from the network access device to the access network requesting a change to a second service provider; receiving a response from the access network; and initiating a network address change request using a configuration protocol. In this manner, a second network address allocated to the subscriber of services of the second service provider is assigned to the network access device to enable the network access device to communicate data packets to the service network providing the selected service. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the subscriber is authenticated by a service activation system coupled to the access network prior to initiating the configuration protocol. Accordingly, the request to the access network includes an authentication request for the subscriber. The response received from the access network therefore includes an authentication status for the subscriber from the second service provider. If the subscriber is authenticated, the client initiates the network address change request.
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This application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/190,633, entitled “Internet Service Selection Over Cable,” filed on Mar. 20, 2000, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to communication network services, and, more particularly, to a method for enabling a client to change between service providers in a broadband communications network.
BACKGROUNDCustomers of communication network services often desire access to a plurality of different services and different service providers. For example, when using a dial-up connection to a packet-switched data network such as the Internet, a customer can choose from multiple service providers by dialing different telephone numbers in the PSTN. The physical path from the customer to the customer's Internet Service Provider (ISP) is dedicated to the connection for the duration of the telephone call. The ISP assigns an IP address to the customer and can link the authenticated customer and the assigned IP address to the physical address (e.g. dial-up modem) used by the customer. With this linkage, the ISP can ensure the customer only uses the address authorized by the ISP and can use the customer's IP address to manage access to the ISP's services. Both the physical connection between a customer and the ISP, and the linkage to IP address assignment and customer authentication are terminated when the dial-up connection is terminated.
Constrained by the physical capacity of these temporary connections across the PSTN, many service providers are moving to high-speed access architectures (e.g., digital subscriber line (DSL), wireless, satellite, or cable) that provide dedicated physical connectivity directly to the subscriber and under the control of the ISP. These alternatives to shared access through the switched telephone network, however, do not lend themselves to shared access by multiple services and/or service providers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides in an illustrative embodiment, a method of configuring a network access device having a first network address allocated to a subscriber of services of a first service provider provided by a first service network, with a new network address allocated to a subscriber of services of a second service provider provided by a second service network, wherein the network access device is connected to an access network connected to a plurality of service networks. The method comprises the steps of: sending a request from the network access device to the access network requesting a change to a second service provider; receiving a response from the access network; and initiating a network address change request using a configuration protocol. In this manner, a second network address allocated to the subscriber of services of the second service provider is assigned to the network access device to enable the network access device to communicate data packets to the service network providing the selected service.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the subscriber is authenticated by a service activation system coupled to the access network prior to initiating the configuration protocol. Accordingly, the request to the access network includes an authentication request for the subscriber. The response received from the access network therefore includes an authentication status for the subscriber from the second service provider. If the subscriber is authenticated, the client initiates the network address change request.
These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
In
The network access devices 101 . . . 104 are typically customer premises equipment (CPE) such as a personal computer, information appliance, personal data assistant, data-enabled wireless handset, or any other type of device capable of accessing information through a packet-switched data network. Each network access device 101 . . . 104 is either connected to or integrated with a network interface unit 111 . . . 114, e.g. a modem, which enables communication through an access network infrastructure, shown as 120 in
The network access device 101 communicates with the service network 151 through the access network infrastructure 120, which, in accordance with aspects of the invention, is capable of recognizing and directing traffic to the proper service network. The access network infrastructure 120 advantageously can be operated and maintained by an entity that is the same as or different from the entities operating and maintaining the service networks 151 and 152. In accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention, the different IP-based services offered by the different service networks 151 and 152 utilize shared layer one and layer two resources in the access network 120. Layer three routing procedures, however, are modified to permit IP traffic from network access device 101 to flow to the correct subscribed service network 151. The access network 120 has a router 130 on the edge of the access network. The router 130 has a first interface with a connection to a router 141 in service network 151 and a second interface with a connection to a router 142 in service network 152. As further described herein, the router processes packets and is capable of directing traffic to the proper service network.
Router 130 in the access network 120 in
The network access device (or “client”) 101 includes, in an exemplary embodiment as a personal computer, a processing unit, memory, and a bus that interfaces the memory with the processing unit. The computer memory includes conventional read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). An input/output system (BIOS) contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the network access device 101 such as, for example, during start up. These are stored in the ROM. The network access device 101 may further include a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk (e.g., floppy disk) drive, and an optical disk drive (e.g., CD-ROM) in a conventional arrangement. The hard disk drive, magnetic disk drive and optical disk drive are coupled to the bus by suitable respective interfaces. The drives and associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage for the network access device 101. The network interface unit 111 (211) as depicted in
Client software residing in the computer memory associated with any particular network access device 101 . . . 104 may provide a user interface for accessing several different communication network services at different times and in different browsing sessions. For example, browser software running on network access device 101 (
An illustrative browser user interface 790 generated by software running on the client is depicted in
The browser user interface 790 provides a graphical user interface (GUI) and includes a service provider manager function or module that enables the user to switch between service providers (e.g., associated with networks 151, 152). The service provider manager function is enabled by selecting the appropriate button or control on the menu bar 792. This may be explicitly presented on a particular button 793 or such function can be part of a selection on a drop-down menu. The service provider management function of the client software permits the user to select a service provider from a list of subscribed service providers. In the embodiment depicted in
It is advantageous to enable the IP addresses—which ultimately determine the service network utilized by the particular network access device—to be allocated and reassigned dynamically. With reference to
The configuration server 161 uses the registration information to activate the service. The configuration server 161 is responsible for allocating network addresses on behalf of the service networks from a network address space associated with the selected service. In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the configuration server 161 uses a host configuration protocol such as the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to configure the network addresses of the network access devices. See R. Droms, “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol,” IETF Network Working Group, RFC 2131 (March 1997); S. Alexander, R. Droms, “DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor Extensions,” IETF Network Working Group, RFC 2132 (March 1997); which are incorporated by reference herein. This aspect of the invention shall be described herein with particular reference to DHCP, and the configuration server 161 shall be referred to herein as the DHCP server, although those skilled in the art would readily be able to implement this aspect of the invention using a different protocol.
Referring now to
Referring now to
It is preferable that the DHCP servers and clients use some mutual authentication mechanism to restrict address assignment to authorized hosts and to prevent clients from accepting addresses from invalid DHCP servers. For example, the “delayed authentication” scheme described in R. Droms, W. Arbaugh, “Authentication for DHCP Messages,” IETF Network Working Group, Internet Draft, <draft-ietf-dhc-authentication-_.txt>; or the Kerberos-based authentication mechanism described in K. Hornstein, T. Lemon, B. Aboba, J. Trostle, “DHCP Authentication via Kerberos V,” IETF Network Working Group, Internet Draft, <draft-hornstein-dhc-kerbauth-_>; which are incorporated by reference herein. The “delayed authentication” mechanism supports mutual authentication of DHCP clients and servers based on a shared secret, which may be provisioned using out-of-band mechanisms. On the other hand, the Kerberos-based mechanisms are very well suited for inter-realm authentication, thereby supporting client mobility, i.e. a network access device could connect to a particular access network infrastructure without any prior registration with the access network. Each service network provider could securely authenticate the network access device accessing the service network from another network “realm,” e.g. the access network infrastructure.
The operator of the relevant service network, e.g. service network 152 in
If the user chooses to continue, the client signals the service activation system 160 at step 306 for a service provider change and provides the access device's (111) physical address information, such as a MAC address as discussed above. The client will also send the subscriber's credentials, in one exemplary embodiment, to enable the service activation system to authenticate the subscriber. The service activation system (registration server 162) will check the subscriber's credentials and credit information utilizing a network-based subscription/authorization process for the various services shared on the access network infrastructure. At step 307, the client receives confirmation from the service activation system 160 that the change to the new service provider is authorized. If the authorization fails, the service activation system 160 returns an error message to the client, the existing service provider association remains in effect, and the client service provider manager function ends. If authorization to switch to the new service provider has succeeded, at step 308, the client sends a message to a local DHCP process (controlled by network application software in the client or on a networked system) requesting that it release and renew the IP address of the access device 101 in accordance with the methodology described above and illustrated in
The present invention has been shown in what are considered to be the most preferred and practical embodiments. It is anticipated, however, that departures may be made therefrom and that obvious modifications may be implemented by persons skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A method of configuring a single network access device of a computer of a subscriber having a first subscription to a first service provider of a first service network and a second subscription to a second service provider of a second service network, the network access device comprising a cable modem connected through a cable access network to one of the first and second service networks, the method comprising:
- receiving, from the subscriber, a first request for access to the first service network;
- assigning, to the network access device in response to the first request, a first network address allocated by the cable access network to the first service provider, the first network address used by the network access device to communicate data over the cable access network to the first service network;
- receiving, from the subscriber, a second request to change from the first service network to the second service network;
- initialing, in response to the second request, a network address change request to release the first network address using a configuration protocol; and
- assigning, to the network access device a second network address allocated by the cable access network to the second service provider, the second network address used by the network access device to communicate data over the cable access network to the second service network.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second requests include an authentication request for the subscriber.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said initiating further comprises transmitting an authentication status for the subscriber to the second service provider, wherein the network address change request is initiated only when the second service provider authenticates the authentication status of the subscriber.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration protocol is a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).
5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second network addresses comprise an Internet Protocol address.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
- transmitting to the subscriber a plurality of updated service provider choices to which the subscriber may additionally subscribe.
7. A method of configuring a single network access device of a computer of a subscriber having a first subscription to a first service provider of a first service network and a second subscription to a second service provider of a second service network, the network access device comprising a cable modem connected through a cable access infrastructure to one of the first and second service networks, the method comprising:
- receiving, from the subscriber, a first request for access to the first service network;
- assigning, to the network access device in response to the first request, a first network address allocated by the cable access infrastructure to the first service provider, the first network address used by the network access device to communicate data over the cable access infrastructure to the first service network;
- receiving, from the subscriber, a second request to change from the first service network to the second service network;
- initiating, in response to the second request, a network address change request to release the first network address using a dynamic host configuration protocol; and
- assigning, to the network access device, a second network address allocated by the cable access infrastructure to the second service provider, the second network address used by the network access device to communicate data over the cable access infrastructure to the second service network.
8. A method of configuring a network access device to obtain a network address allocated to a selected service provider, the network access device comprising a cable modem connected through a cable access network to a plurality of service providers to which the subscriber has subscribed, comprising:
- receiving, from the subscriber, a first request for access to a first service provider from the plurality of service providers;
- assigning, to the network access device in response to the first request, a first network address allocated by the cable access infrastructure to the network access device for communicating data over the cable access infrastructure to the first service provider;
- receiving, from the subscriber, a second request to access a selected service provider from the plurality of service providers, wherein the second request includes an authentication request for the subscriber based on the user credentials;
- receiving a response from the cable access network, wherein said response includes an authentication status for the subscriber; and
- when the subscriber is authenticated, initiating a network address change request using a host configuration protocol, whereby the first network address allocated to the first service provider is released, and a second network address allocated by the cable access network to the selected service provider is assigned to the network access device, the second network address being utilized by the network access device to communicate data with the selected service provider over the cable access network.
9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the host configuration protocol is a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).
10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the network access device receives an Internet Protocol address.
11. A method of configuring a single network access device of a computer of a subscriber having a first subscription to a first service provider of a first service network and a second subscription to a second service provider of a second service network, the network access device comprising a cable modem connected through a cable access network communicating with a service activation system to the first and second service networks, the method comprising:
- receiving, from the subscriber, a first request far access to the first service network;
- assigning, to the network access device, a first network address allocated by the cable access network to the first service provider for accessing the first service network, in response to the first request;
- receiving, from the subscriber, a second request to change from the first service network to the second service network;
- sending authentication information for the second service provider to the service activation system;
- receiving an authentication status from the service activation system and, if authenticated;
- initiating a network address change request using a configuration protocol,
- whereby a second network address allocated to the second service provider by the cable access network is assigned to the network access device, the second network address being utilized by the network access device to communicate data packets over the cable access network to the second service network. and the first network address is released.
12. A method of configuring a single network access device of a computer of a subscriber having a first subscription to a first service provider of a first service network and a second subscription to a second service provider of a second service network, the network access device comprising a cable modem connected through a cable access infrastructure having a service activation system to the first and second service networks, the method comprising:
- receiving, from the subscriber, a first request for access to the first service network;
- assigning, to the network access device, a first network address allocated by the cable access infrastructure to the first service provider for accessing the first service network, in response to the first request;
- receiving, from the subscriber, a second request to change from the first service network to the second service network;
- sending authentication information for the second service provider to the service activation system;
- receiving an authentication status from the service activation system and, if authenticated;
- initiating a network address change request using a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP),
- whereby a second network address allocated to second service provider by the cable access infrastructure is assigned to the network access device, the second network address being utilized by the network access device to communicate data packets over the cable access infrastructure to the second service network, and the first network address is released.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 20, 2001
Date of Patent: Jun 27, 2006
Patent Publication Number: 20010049729
Assignee: AT&T Corp. (New York, NY)
Inventors: Sean E. Carolan (Jackson, NJ), John W. Garrett (Neshanic Station, NJ), Charles Robert Kalmanek, Jr. (Short Hills, NJ), Han Q. Nguyen (Marlboro, NJ), Kadangode K. Ramakrishnan (Berkeley Heights, NJ)
Primary Examiner: Jeffrey Gaffin
Assistant Examiner: Alan Chen
Application Number: 09/812,315
International Classification: G06F 15/16 (20060101);